In December 2015, Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) released its 94 “Calls to Action”, calling on all forms of government to begin the process of reconciliation. The Lethbridge Indigenous Sharing Network (LISN), which is a network of urban indigenous agencies, came together to start discussing urban indigenous issues in Lethbridge. In 2016, Alberta Culture and Community Spirit and Native Counselling Services, led the LISN through a series of strategic planning sessions, which resulted in the creation of a community based Urban Indigenous Community Plan. Of the recommendations in the plan, reconciliation was considered a main priority to be addressed.

In September 2016, a reconciliation sub-committee was formed consisting of many stakeholders and the process towards creating a “Reconciliation Implementation Plan” commenced. The reconciliation sub-committee collaborated with appropriate members of Lethbridge City Council and administration and consulted with Elders from the Blackfoot Confederacy to come up with a plan. The plan, approved by Lethbridge City Council in June 2017, provides recommendations for municipal action as specified in the TRC, as well as actions that the broader community can take, through various agencies, organizations and individuals. The speaker will elaborate on the specifics of the plan, which also will be highlighted during various events at Lethbridge Reconciliation Week, September 18-23, 2017.

Speaker: Roy Pogorzelski

Roy Pogorzelski, a traditional Métis from Saskatchewan, is the director for the Iikaisskini (Low Horn) FNMI Gathering Place at U of L. He has worked with several municipalities to create a National Equity and Inclusion Guide, facilitated human rights training in Europe, instructed courses at the First Nations University of Canada and at the U of L and chaired the Reconciliation Committee for the City of Lethbridge. Melanie Joly, Canadian Heritage minister, recently appointed Pogorzelski to a four-year term as a director for the Canadian Race Relations Foundation.

Pogorzelski was the Inclusion Consultant with the City of Lethbridge and, in that role, was recently invited to represent UNESCO Canada for the City at the International Coalition of Cities Against Racism (ICCAR) meetings in Kenya. In addition to being a U of L senator, Pogorzelski is a member of the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce where he serves as co-chair of the Aboriginal Opportunities Committee. He is also a member of the Alberta Provincial Hate Crimes Committee and a founding member of Lethbridge Rotary Club Mosaic.

Moderator: Kristin Krein

For more information on the Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs, visit the SACPA website.